Chapter Twenty-Four: Family Dinner with Guests:

Spoony stood at the doorway. My jaw dropped.

“Spoony? Spoony, is that you?” I asked.

“Yeah, man,” he said. I laughed and hugged him.

“It’s so good to see you!” I said. He hadn’t changed from when I last saw him. He got taller, but other than that not much had changed.

“Roger!” I heard behind me. I turned to see mom walking out of the kitchen. Spoony let go of me.

“Mrs. Muir!” he said. “You look just as lovely as ever. I rolled my eyes. Suck up. He definitely hasn’t changed at all.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” mom asked. “We have one more guest over.” I whipped my head around. I knew that she was going to do that. Does she really think it’s a good idea with Spoony?

“Oh?” he asked.

“Do you remember Bridget?” mom asked. Spoony froze.

“Oh…” he said. Kim whipped her head around. Mom blinked.

“What?” she asked. Did she really forget? Is she really that clueless? How could she?

“Is something wrong?” mom asked. I was about to speak when we heard someone ask, “Hello?” Oh shit. We turned and saw Bridget standing in the doorway.

“Oh…” she said.

“Hello, Bridget,” mom said.

“Hi…” she said. Spoony’s eyes widened.

“Bridgy?” he asked.

“Hello, Spoony,” she said. Mom clapped her hands together.

“Great!” she shouted. “Everyone is here. Let’s eat!”

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Let me tell you about the picture of awkward. There’s mom at the head of the table. Mallory and Kim on the left side of the table. Spoony and Bridget to the right. I’m on the other end of the table. No one is eating their salad or having a drink. There’s only the clock ticking in the background.

“Well…” mom said at last. “This is rather nice, isn’t it?” Nobody said a thing. Mom had an uncomfortable look on her face.

“Oh…” she said. What was she thinking? Bridget and Spoony used to date. This is bad. This is really bad.

“So… how have you been?” Spoony asked Bridget.

“Fine,” she said. “And you?” Spoony nodded.

“Good, I’m good,” he said. “I’m getting married soon.” I turned my head.

“Aw, congratulations!” mom said. “Isn’t that great?”

“Uh… yeah, yeah,” I said. Mom started clapping. My sisters reluctantly joined in. Bridget and I didn’t respond.

“Uh… thanks, I guess,” Spoony said.

“What’s everyone doing for the summer?” I asked.

“Not much,” everyone said.

“What are you doing for the summer?” Spoony asked.

“I’m just volunteering at the library. After that, I don’t know,” I admitted. He shook his head.

“That’s not good enough,” he said. “Come with me. I’ll show you a good summer!”

“Uh… thank you for that,” I said. I shoved salad into my mouth. I shoved more into my mouth. Mallory rolled her eyes.

“Why are we doing this?” she asked. All eyes focused on her. Mallory threw down her fork.

“What is the point?” she asked. “Why are they here? Spoony and Bridget don’t look comfortable. Nathan doesn’t want to be here. I don’t really care about being here. Just… why?”

“Mallory!” mom growled.

“We’re having dinner, of course,” I said.

“No, why are you here?” she asked. “Why are you in Wellfleet?” I froze with my fork in my hand.

“I don’t know,” I said in a quiet voice. I heard her snort.

“That’s the problem with you, isn’t it?” Mallory asked. “You have never been able to make up your mind. You’re about to thirty and it’s just sad.”

“Mallory!” mom shouted. “That’s enough!”

“What? It’s true!” my sister said. “He has no clue what he’s doing! He said so himself!”

“I said, that’s enough!” mom shouted. I lowered my fork. Bridget looked at everyone talking at the table. Spoony pressed his lips together.

“Right! Let’s just eat!” he said. “We can’t let this good food go to waste, shall we?” Spoony picked up his fork and started to eat. The women at the table started to eat as well. I on the other hand wasn’t feeling so hungry anymore. I hated to admit it, Mallory had a point. I had no idea what I was going to do with myself. This wasn’t good enough. Something had to change over this summer.